Platen printing-machine



(No Model.) 7 Sheets'-SheetA l,

C. E. SAWYER.

PLATBN PRINTING MACHINE. No. 510,146.4 Patented Dec. 5, 14893.

(No Model.) 7 sheets-sheet s.

C. E. SAWYER. PLATIN PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 510,146. I.. Patented Dep. 55u-1.893u

wlw-NEE (No Model.) 7 Sheets- Sheet 4.

o. E. SAWYBR.

I V PLATEN PRINTINGMAGHINB. No. 510,146. 1 Patented Dec. 5, 1893 I 21 7923 .w {Lf/f 790 55 gz l wh I ',Ul .Il

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(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheet 5.

o. E. SAWYER. PLATBN PRINTING MACHINE.

10.510,146. Patented Dec. 5, l1893,

(No Model.) 7 Sheets- Sheet 6. C. E. SAWYER. PLATEN PRINTING MACHINE.

I Patented Deo. 5, 1893a v Nin SNMMM QR@ @JWM m HKM@ (No Model.)

No. 510,146. Patented Deo. 5, 1893,IV

,with my invention.

UNITED STATES! VPl-tTniwr OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SAWYER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PLATEN PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters-Patent No. 510,146, dated-December 5, 1893??- Application led Julie 17. 1893.

sein 477,960. (No man To alba/hom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES E. SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of VSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented4 certain Improvements in Platen Printing-Machines, of which the following isa full,'clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- 'a Figure l is a side elevation of a v platen printing-machine constructed in accordance Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sidel elevation of a portion of the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan of the same. Fig. 6 is a-sectional diagram showing the position of the parts when the formcarriers are at the end of their outward traverse. Fig. 7 is a similar diagram showingthe form-carriers at the-end of their inward traverse in a position for printing. Fig. 8 is a detail of the platen showing the uppervhalf or portion lowered or thrown off to avoid taking an impression. Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective of one of the throw off rock-shafts by means of which the upper portion of the platen is raised and lowered. Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the upper halfor portion of the platen,showing the tympan-frame made in two parts, each pivoted to the removable top plate of the platen. Fig. ll is a perspective View of one of the form-roller hangers. Figs. l2 and 13 are details to be referred to.

My invention relates to bed and platen printing machines, more particularly those designed for printing tags, tickets, labels, and other small articles; and my invention has for its object to provide a machineof this character in which very short movements of the reciprocating parts are required, thereby enabling themachine to be run at a greater speed, while at the same time the friction and wear of the parts are reduced to a minimum.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel features, combinations of parts, and details of construction as hereinafter set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, A representsthe framework of the machine and B the bed-plate, upon which is placed the stationary platen C which is secured in place thereon by a central clamping screw a, Figs. 2 and 6, and is made adjustablein height by means of fonrlevelingscrews b on which it rests, said screws being located at the corners of the platen and passing down through the bed-plate as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, beneath which theyare provided with handwheels c by which they be turned to effect the desired adjustment of the platen. D represents the vertically reciprocating form-bed which co-operates with the platen O, said bed being provided on its upper side with a hollow actuating plungercl adapted to slide in a suitable guide E bolted to the side pieces of the framework A, said plunger having pivoted to it at 25 a rod e connected to the strap of an eccentric G on the main or driving shaft H by means of which the desired vertical reciprocating movement isimparted tothe form-bed D. The driving shaft H is supported in bearings in the upper sidepieces of the framework, and carries at one end the fast and loose pulleys 26, 27, and at the opposite end a bevel gearg, which meshes with a smaller bevel gear g2, on a shaft h, Fig. 3, having its bearings in brackets on the framework and'carrying at one end a crankdisk I having an adjustable crank-pin t' to which is pivoted a rod la, the lower end of which is connected with a ratchet and pawl mechanismJ adapted to intermittingly rotate the lower one of a pair of feed-rolls l, fm, between which passes the web of paper 28 which is drawn in awell known mannerfrom aroll, not shown. The upper feed-roll Z is forced downward toward the lower roll m, by means .of `suitable springs 29, Fig. 2, which exert a pressure upon the vertically sliding journal boxes of said roll, whereby the necessary friction upon the paper is produced to insure a positive feed.

The form-bed D extends out beyond the platen at the front and rear, as shownin Figs. l, 4, 5, 6, and '7,and is provided with horizontal grooves or guideways 30, in which are titted two reciprocating type-form carriers L, L, which are arranged to slide horizontally in said ways in opposite directions away from and toward the center of the form-bed D, whereby the type-forms 3l, secured to the carriers L in any suitable manner, are caused IOO to pass over and in contact with the form-inking rollers both on their outward and inward movement or traverse.

Each of the type-forms is inked by a series of form-inking rollels w, the shafts of which are supported in hangers p adjustably secured to the sides of the form-bed D by means of slots and bolts 70, 7], and adjusting screws 72; said hangers being provided on the inner side with bosses 73 having vertical slots 32, shown in Figs. 6 and 11, for the reception of the journals of the form-roller shafts, whereby as the form-bed descends to give the impression, the journals of the form-rollers rise in the slots 32, and the form-rollers are thus permitted to settle or adjust themselves around the curved or convex surface of the ink cylinder M to insure the proper supply of ink therefrom before the next outward Inovement of the type-forms, while on the ascent of the form-bed the form-rollers descend by their own gravity as far as permitted by the slots 32, which causes the tops of said rollers to be brought to a uniform level, thus insuring perfect and complete contact of the formrollers with all parts of the type-forms as the latter pass thereover, both on their outward and inward movement.

The type-form carriers L, L, are reciprocated in their guideways 30 to bring them alternately into their printing and inking positions by means of rods q, q, pivoted thereto at 33, and having their outer ends pivoted at 34 to levers N depending from long hubs or sleeves 20 secured to horizontal rock-shafts P which are supported in bearings in the framework and arranged on opposite sides of the machine, said hubs or sleeves 20 being each provided with an inwardly curved arm Q carrying at its upper end an anti-friction roll 35 which rests on the surface of an actuating cam R on the main or driving shaft H. The rolls 35 are kept constantly in contact with the cams R by means of sti spiral springs 36, the opposite ends of which are attached to arms 37 extending upward from the hubs 20 on the rock-shafts P, whereby as the shaft H is rotated, the cams R acting on the rolls 35 of the arms Q lift the same against the stress of the springs 36, and through the connections described, cause the type-formcarriers L to be simultaneously moved inward to their printing positions as shown in Figs. l and 7, the outward movement of the carriers L with their type-forms to enable the latter to receive their supply of ink as described, being effected by the springs 36 as the cams revolve. The arrangement of the mechanism is such that as soon as the plunger cl with the form-bed D has risen about one-eighth of an inch after producing the impression, the typeforms commence to move outward to be inked and are returned to their printing positions by the time the eccentric G has completed its revolution, and by attaching the form-rollers to the reciprocating form-bed as described, so that they will move up and down therewith and thereby be caused to periodically come into contact with the ink-cylinders M, arranged directly beneath them in stationary bearings, I am enable to ink the type-forms and feed the paper While the form-bed is in motion, very short movements of the reciprocating mechanism being lconsequently required under this construction, which renders it possible to run the machine at a greater speed with a minimum of friction and wear, advantages not possessed in ordinary bed and platen printing machines.

The shafts of the ink-cylinders M by which the form-rollers are supplied with ink are supported in stationary bearings t in the framework, and are each provided with a grooved pulley 38 which is driven by a belt 39 from a grooved pulley 40, on a shaft 4l having its bearings in the lower portion of the framework and carrying at one end a pulley 42 which is driven bya belt 43 from a pulley 44 on the driving shaft H, as shown in Fig. 2.

The ink-cylinders M are supplied with ink by distributer-rolls w and vibrator rolls 45 of the usual construction which are supplied by ductor-rolls 46 which are adapted to be brought into contact with the fountain-rolls 47 in the ink-fountains 48 at each descent of the form-bed D in the following manner: The

shaft of each of the ductor-rolls 46 is supported in bearings at the outer end of a frame 49 pivoted to lugs on the ink-fountain, said frame being pressed upward by Hat springs 52 which serve to lift the ductor-roll 46 away from the fountain-roll 47 and keep it in contact with the vibrator-roll 45, as shown in Fig. 4, until the form-bed begins to descend, which causes two downwardlyextending arms or bars 53 attached thereto,one on each side, to come into contact with and depress the frame 49 and thereby bring the ductorroll 46 into contact with the fountain-roll 47, which latter is rotated on the ascent of the form-bed by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 50 operated by a lever 54 connected by a rod 55 with the vertically reciprocating form-bed D; and in this manner a fresh supply of ink is transferred from the fountain-roll to the ductor-roll at each descent of the form-bed. The amount of ink taken up bythe fountainroll is regulated by an inclined plate 56 shown dotted in Figs. l and 4, made adjustable by a series of screws 57, this latter device being well known and forming no part of my invention. The throw oif device by means of which the working surface of the platen is lowered or thrown olf to prevent the taking of an impression will now be described. The platen C is composed of two principal portions or halves a', b', the upper portion or half a having a false or removable plate 58 which forms the upper or working face of the platen, and to which is secured the tympanframe 59 by which the blanket 21 and tympan-sheet 22, Fig. 7, are held in place upon the platen in the usual manner. The remov- IIO able top-plate 58 is steadi'ed and heldin place by pins 23, (shown in Figs. 8 and l0) projecting from the`portion a into holes in the under side of the plate 5S which permit of the latter being easily removed with the tympanframe whenever it may be found necessary to gain access to the tympan-sheet or blanket to adjust the saine, thereby avoiding the necessity of removing the entire portion af, which would be inconvenient. The upper surface of the lower portion b of the platen is provided with a series of half-rou nd grooves 60 which form sockets or bearings for a corresponding number' of rock-shafts d', each of which is provided with a longitudinal rib or projection 61, Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, which tits into a rectangular groove 62 formedin the under side of the upper portion ct of the platen, the height of these projections 61 being such that when turned up by rocking the shafts'd a quarter revolution into the position shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, lthey will act upon the portion a and raise it clear of the portion b to its proper printing level, the corners of the projections 6l being rounded off as shown to facilitate this movement. When however it is desired to throw oif the platen so as not to print as the web passes beneath the type-forms, the projections 61 are turned down ilatwise as shown in Fig. 8, when they will lie snugly within the grooves 62, this movement causing the portion ct to descend and restupon the surface of the portion b', in which position the working or top surface of the platen will be below its printing level and no impression will be taken on the descent of the form-bed D.

The rock-shafts CZ are each provided at one end with a slotted crank e', Figs. l and 9, with which engages a pin f on a horizontal slide bar g moving in a groove 75 in the por-l tion b', as shown in Fig. 13, said bar g being actuated by a slotted lever W projecting from a stud z", to which is secured a long lever 7c provided with a handle 63 at each end, whereby it may be operated from each side of the machine to simultaneously oscillate the rockshafts d and thus raise or lower the working surface of the platen as may be required; suitable guides 64 secured to the portion 0, and fitting snugly against the front and rear sides of the portion b and sliding in ways attached thereto, as shown in Figs. 10 and l2, being employed to keep the portion a in position while being raised or lowered as described.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a platen printing-machine, the combination of a vertically reciprocating formbed provided with guideways, form-rollers mounted in hangers or supports secured to said form-bed, a type-form-carrier having a horizontally reciprocating movement in said guideways, whereby the type-form is brought into contact with the form-rollers, a platen with which said form-bed co-operates, and

zontally reciprocating the type-form-carrier inthe ways thereof to bring thetype-form into contact with the form-rollers andv return it to its printing position during the time that the form-bed is in motion, substantially as set forth.

2. In a platen printing-machine, the combination, with a platen and a vertically reciprocating form -bed co-operating therewith, said form-bed being provided with horizontal guideways, of a type-form-carrier having a horizontally reciprocating movement in said guideways, and a series of horizontally arranged form-rollers supported in vertically slotted hangers attached to said form-bed and adapted to receive ink from an ink-cylinder arranged directly beneath the same, whereby said form rollers are permitted to rise and adapt themselves to the curved surface of the ink-cylinder on the descent of the formbed and drop to a uniform level on the ascent of said form-bed to permit the type-forni to be brought into contact with all of said formrollers as it passes thereover, substantially as described.

3. In a platen printing-machine, the combination, with a vertically reciprocating formbed provided with guideways extending outward from its center in opposite directions, of two type-form-carriers havingahorizontal movement in said guideways simultaneously away from and toward the center of the bed, whereby the type-forms areLcaused to beinked, a series of form-rollers for each type-form kmounted in hangers or supports secured to and moving with the form-bed, a platen with which said form-bed co-operates, and means, substantially-as described for vertically reciprocating the form-bed and horizontally reciprocating the type-form-carriers in their guideways simultaneously in opposite directions to ink the type-forms and return the same to their printing positions while the form-bed is in motion, substantially as set forth.

4. In a platen printing-machine, the combination, with a vertically reciprocating formbed provided with gnideways extending outward from its center in opposite directions, of two type-form-carriers having a horizontal movement in said guideways simultaneously away from and toward the center of the bed, whereby the type-forms are caused to be inked, a series of form-rollers for each typeform mounted in hangers or supports secured to and moving with the form-bed, a platen with which said form-bed co-operates, the levers N, connected with said type-form-carriers by rods q, the horizontal rock-shafts P provided with arms Q and 37, and the cams R and springs 36 for actuating the type-formcarriers in opposite directions, all operating substantially as described. f

5. In a platen printing-machine, the combination of the vertically reciprocating formbed D, its plunger d and the eccentric G for actuating the same, said for1n-bed being provided with guideways 30 extending outward from its center in opposite directions, the two typeform-carriers having a horizontal movement in the guideways 30 simultaneously away from and toward each other, the platen C, a series of form-rollers for each type-form, said rollers having their journals supported in vertical slots 32 in hangers p secured to the form-bed, two ink cylinders M, arranged one beneath each series of form-rollers, the rockshafts P, levers N, connected by the rods q, with the type -form carriers the arms Q and 37, the actuating cams R, and the springs 36, ali operating substantially as set forth.

G. In a platen printing-machine, a platen composed of two portions vertically separable from each other, combined with roekshafts interposed between said portions and provided with projections adapted to act upon the upper portion of the platen to raise or lower the working surface of the same, a handlever connected with said rock-shafts for actuating the same, and guides for keeping the upper portion of the platen in place, substantially as set forth.

7. In a platen printing-machine, the platen C composed of a lower portion b and an upper portion a separable vertically from each other, and provided with suitable guides, said portion a' having grooves 62 on its under side, in combination with the rock-shafts CZ' having their bearings in the lower portion l1 and provided with ribs or projections 61 fitting within said grooves 62, and adapted when moved into a vertical position to raise the upper portion of the platen and hold the same in its printing position, and when turned into a horizontal position to lower or throw oft the platen to prevent the taking of an impression, and means substantially as described for oscillating the rock-shafts to raise and depress the working surface of the platen, substantially as set forth.

8. In a platen printing-machine, the combination, with the vertically reciprocating formbed and its horizontally reciprocating typeform-carrier, of the fountain and fountainroll, the latter rotated interlnittingly by ratchet and pawl mechanism connected with the form-bed, the dnctor-roll mounted on a movable frame and normally held out of contact With the fountain-roll, and a bar or projection on the form-bed adapted to depress the ductor-roll frame on the descent of the form-bed to bring the doctor-roll into contact with the fountain-roll and retain it in such position until the ascent of the form-bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 9th day of June, A. D. 1893.

CHARLES E. SAWYER.

In presence of- P. E. TnsoHnMAoHER, R. HENRY MARSH. 

